Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel took pole position for the Indian Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber by just 0.044 seconds at the Buddh International Circuit here today.
Vettel, who has dominated the proceedings all weekend, clocked 1 minute 25.283 seconds in this afternoon's one-hour qualifying session.
It was Vettel's second successive pole in India, his fifth of 2012 and the 35th of his Formula 1 career.
''It could have been faster here and there,'' said the 25-year-old German, but with title rival Fernando Alonso qualifying fifth Vettel, has a McLaren Mercedes cushion in the shape of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, who occupy the second row.
Still, Vettel isn't taking much comfort from that position: ''Today is obviously a good result for us, 1-2,'' he said, ''but tomorrow is the main exercise with the race. The McLarens were very quick in long runs yesterday as well as the Ferraris, so I think it will be a close race.''
Asked if he should now be calling Buddh his home circuit since he seems so comfortable here, Vettel answered: ''It's a bit far away from my home country, but I liked the circuit from the first practice session last year. It was very special to be the first winner here in India and to do it again this year is obviously the target.''
Second in qualifying for the fourth time this season, Webber was philosophical about the tiny margin between him and his teammate.
''It was a good, tight-run thing between us, only half a tenth,'' said the 36-year-old Australian. ''I was surprised to be second, to be honest, so I’ll take that.''
Hamilton was relaxed about not being on the front row.
''I am just looking forward to a race where we don't have any issues, one where we can fight for position and get some good points,'' said the 2008 World Champion, whose chances of a second title have faded over the last two races in which he finished only fifth and 10th.
Asked about a little moment he had in Turns 5 and 6, Hamilton was quick to pay tribute to the circuit: ''This track is incredibly challenging for all of us,'' he said, ''and the more we drive it the more we realise that. It's a great circuit, it takes a lot of focus, it takes a lot to try and get a perfect lap together.
''That’s a corner where you're pulling a lot of g-force and put a lot of load on the tyres; if you just touch the kerb you have an oversteer moment, but you're always trying to gain time through there because it's an important part of the circuit.''
HUMOROUS
There was a humorous moment in the post-qualifying press conference when a question was rasied to Vettel about him patting his Red Bull car like a horse after victory in the earlier race. The questions was ''In his passion for racing, did he see it as a living creature rather than a machine?''
'First off, the car is not a horse,'' laughed Vettel. ''Sometimes you might lose oil or fuel but I think the smell is nicer than what the horse drops! You work together with your car: you speak to your team on the radio but it's between you and your car, there is obviously a special relationship.''
''You're very happy when you cross the line in a very good position after you have had a good race so you say thanks to the car, but also the car is what connects you to your crew. I am working with the car on the track, the crew is working with the car in the garage and we all share a passion. So it was maybe just a nice gesture to say thanks.''
In another comical moment, Webber was asked why Red Bull had regained their dominance over the last three races. ''Drivers,'' said the Australian laconically.
INDIA
The Indian connections to the race did not fare very well, with Local Boy Narain Karthikeyan starting 23rd tomorrow, while the Sahara Force India boys of Nico Hulkenberg and Paul Di Resta qualifying provisionally at P12 and P16, though they both seem optimistic for tomorrow's race.
Narain driving for the second time at home in the Buddh International Circuit was happy with his performance and he believes the pace in the car is good and the strategy could be a one stopper, given the low tyre degradation. It is going to be another special day for Narain with the fans cheering him on after last year's phenomenal performance.
Hulkenberg is very optimistic about the race tomorrow, because of how close the times were today and also they have the option of picking their starting tires for the race and come up with a strategy for final day.
Di Resta, piloting the other Sahara Force India said there was a lot of hard work ahead before the race tomorrow and needs to look at things overnight to see where there can be improvement in the car.
While the big boys in their big mean machines were making all the noise and getting all the attention, the support races promoted by Buddh International Circuit also saw a lot wheel to wheel action with a lot of Indian drivers participating in the JK Racing Asia Series as well as the MRF Challenge 2012.
There are seven Indians on the JK Racing Asia Series grid and 3 on the MRF Challenge 2012 grid.
Akhil Khushlani and Aditya Patel represented Team US Formula Project, Vishnu Prasad, Raj Bharath, Karminder Singh, Akhil Rabindra and Chetan Korada drove for the Indian team Meco Racing in the JK series, while Sureshwaran, Sundar and Parth Ghorpade were a part of the MRF Challenge. While MRF Challenge did not see any Indian challenge for the podium in Race 1, Aditya Patel brought home his car in 3rd place for the first race in the JK Racing Asia series.
Fast Cars, an array of celebrities, sporting legends, politicians and top notch industrialists expected at the Buddh International Circuit on the 28th of October 2012, the spectators are in for an exciting day.
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